The cultivation methods of the Daoist and Buddhist schools, while largely similar before reaching the Day Roaming Realm, differed greatly in their finer details.

Lacking the foundational training of a Buddhist disciple, gathering the Dharma Manifestation at the Eighth Tier proved exceptionally difficult for him.

Hence, he had no choice but to resort to artifice, borrowing the power of external objects. These two orbs, embodying the utterly distinct attributes of light and darkness, would serve as the basis for the construction.

After five hundred and sixty days and nights, the nurturing of the Glazed Fire Blazing Orb and the Dark Extremity Cold Essence Orb had reached its final stage.

As one inscription seal after another was pressed into those two spheres, the small meditation chamber, spanning forty zhang in circumference, became increasingly demarcated.

Ideally, they should no longer merely hover in mid-air, but rather begin to orbit one another, stirring the spiritual essence of the surrounding space into unrest. Often, the dark half would sweep past, freezing the walls. Yet, immediately following the arrival of the light half, the ice layer would rapidly melt, ultimately turning the stone walls almost into molten lava.

Zong Shou, however, seemed to drip two drops of vital blood almost periodically, flicking them into the two orbs.

The connection between their spirits grew ever tighter.

Whenever his vital energy, blood essence, or soul power began to wane, a high-grade spirit stone or a medicinal pill would appear in Zong Shou’s hand. He didn't even need to swallow them; merely clutching them would draw all their spiritual energy and medicinal potency into his body.

It was impossible to gauge the consumption, leaving remnants and powders scattered around him.

Paying no mind to the shifting cycles of day and night or the passage of time, he focused intently on imbuing the orbs with one illusory, spirit-condensed talisman after another.

The Five Elements are divided into Yin and Yang, and their respective attributes differ. Water, for instance, is divided into Gui Water and Ren Water.

What Zong Shou needed to do was to categorize every Law he had mastered into Yin and Yang affiliations and embed them all within these two orbs.

This was to gradually form two opposing spiritual formations within them. This path was akin to blood-sacrificing an artifact, verging on heretical.

However, once accomplished, the two orbs would not only serve as the rough template for transforming into Black and White Grottoes, but they would also merge completely with his Primordial Soul, becoming inseparable.

Indeed, when the final talisman seal was struck home, the Glazed Fire Blazing Orb and the Dark Extremity Cold Essence Orb immediately began to repel each other violently.

Had Zong Shou not anticipated this and constrained them with true energy, they would have instantly shot out of the meditation chamber.

Instead of being alarmed, he was delighted, a smile gracing his face. These two crude templates were finally complete.

At that very moment, a paper crane suddenly flew in through the window.

Zong Shou casually caught it, but a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. It bore no talismans, yet it possessed an innate sentience, allowing it to fly unimpeded.

Upon opening it, several names were revealed. One was Xie An, and another was Xuan Ye. Zong Shou did not recognize the other four names.

He didn't give it much thought, however. Luo Shi had fought on behalf of his sect six months prior, losing in seven exchanges against the Desire-Severing Sword; it was said he was utterly crushed. This was why his name was not included on this list this time.

As for the four unfamiliar names, the Pale Life Dao’s influence was vast, and there were far more young masters of comparable age than just Xie An and Luo Ye.

Due to various circumstances, they would attend the Pale Life Academy in the future, but they were equally qualified to represent their sect in the challenges.

He recalled the tradition of the Desire-Severing challenge against the Ten Sacred Lands and Nineteen Spirit Mansions: typically, three to seven fighters would engage consecutively.

Either the various sects could no longer produce suitable candidates, or Desire-Severing felt satisfied, or perhaps he retired due to severe injuries.

However, inflicting an injury upon him was no easy feat. Except for the very beginning, when a few Ninth Tier experts from the bottom ranks of the Nineteen Spirit Mansions shamelessly intervened, anyone capable of wounding Desire-Severing had since vanished.

These six names on the roster should be the order of engagement chosen by the Pale Life Dao.

Unexpectedly, his own name, 'Tan Qiu', was absent.

Raising an eyebrow, Zong Shou’s expression immediately returned to normal. He understood that the senior elders managing the sect were likely genuinely afraid he would bring disgrace, hence his exclusion.

After a moment’s thought, Zong Shou let out a short, dry laugh. Unconcerned, he scribbled the characters 'Su Chuxue' at the very end.

He then refolded the piece of paper precisely into the shape of the original paper crane. In the next instant, the crane seemed to come alive, beating its wings and soaring out of the window.

He paid the matter no further heed, treating it as if it had never happened, and focused on what lay before him.

Now, only two final steps remained: 'bridging' the two orbs, and merging them completely into his own Primordial Soul.

At this moment, Zong Shou was entirely unaware that Han Fang, who had just received the reply via the paper crane, was agonizing within the Scripture Repository, Second Floor, staring at the last line on the list.

The calligraphy was vigorous, like a soaring dragon or dancing phoenix, penetrating the paper with palpable force, worthy of praise.

—Su Chuxue? Why her?

Under Zong Shou’s command, both Zong Yuan and Ruo Shui were extraordinarily powerful, capable of contending with Eighth Tier experts despite only being at the Seventh Tier, in Han Fang’s estimation.

Especially the former; Han Fang held him in high regard. Aided by his innate Guardian, the power of an Eighth Tier Thunder Giant Dragon, he could last beyond thirty moves against Desire-Severing and likely surprise the assembled sects.

Yet, Zong Shou had inexplicably written down the name of Su Chuxue, whom Han Fang considered the weakest in both aptitude and strength.

Mysteriously, Han Fang was reminded of the wager he made with Zong Shou two years ago.

Could this little maidservant truly possess something extraordinary? Yet, the girl's spirit techniques and martial arts were clearly only at the Sixth Tier. How could she possibly withstand even a single move from Desire-Severing?

What trickery was this fellow up to?

Han Fang was momentarily lost in thought when the white paper in his hand was snatched away by someone beside him. He then heard an angry roar: “This is sheer nonsense! Does he think this battle is child’s play? While Desire-Severing challenges the sects to hone his swordsmanship, in reality, someone intends to use him to probe the true depth and reserves of the various sects—their intentions are malicious! In this battle, even if we cannot win, we must not let our Pale Life Dao lose face—”

The speaker was Fang Wen, who let out a heavy snort: “To send this little girl out to fight, what is the meaning of this? Is he inviting others to mock us, saying the Pale Life Dao has no capable people?”

Han Fang felt helpless, blinking dumbly. Meanwhile, Xue Xi, seated beside him, said expressionlessly, “I visited the Ancestral Hall yesterday. Junior Uncle Zong is now ranked sixteenth on the Profound Fate Golden Register, moving up one position, placing him above Senior Uncle Han.”

Fang Wen immediately deflated like a pricked balloon, his face a picture of dejection. The sequence on the Profound Fate Golden Register not only represented the status of core disciples within the sect but also their authority.

Although Zong Shou had not formally taken authority within the sect, since his placement was now above Han Fang’s, his words could not be ignored, and even Han Fang could not veto them.

Han Fang was agonizing internally—why now, of all times?

He was also secretly perplexed. Senior Brother Han was on the verge of stepping into the Saint Realm; how could Zong Shou have surpassed him?

Hadn't that fellow’s cultivation stalled due to flaws in his cultivation technique?

What exactly had happened recently to cause such a sudden shift in ranking on the Profound Fate Golden Register?

“Uncle Master should not have agreed to this matter in the first place! In my view, we must report this to the Seat Holder and ask for their judgment to veto Junior Uncle Zong’s erratic command.”

Wei Xu had been missing for a long time, and no one knew where the Seat Holder had gone.

The other elders were equally elusive. Within the Pale Life Palace, the two highest-ranking figures were Han Fang and Zong Shou.

Those who knew the general whereabouts of others were far beneath them in both seniority and ranking.

Could they really strike the ‘Shocking Spirit Bell’ in the Ancestral Hall—said to be capable of transmitting voices across countless worlds—over this matter?

Han Fang remained lost in thought, staring fixedly in the direction of the First Courtyard of the Jia Block.

For the past few days, for some unknown reason, he had been experiencing intermittent feelings of unease, a prickling sensation on his skin. It wasn't an ill omen, but rather a mix of elation and anxiety.

He had a hazy feeling that some monumental event was about to unfold, and it was highly likely to involve his junior brother.

The change in the Profound Fate Golden Register confirmed his suspicion.

That fellow had been in seclusion for several days now; what exactly was he doing?

On a road choked with yellow sand, a large, black Cloud-Flipping Carriage was speeding onward. Pulled by eight Fifth Tier Wind-Riding Steeds, its speed was pushed to the extreme, streaking like lightning through the mountains.

Just as it completely exited the mountain gorge, a figure appeared at the exit ahead.

The coachman of the Cloud-Flipping Carriage immediately raised his eyebrows and abruptly pulled the reins tight. Though nearly eighty years old, this man possessed immense strength. With just a slight, effortless tug, he brought the eight Fifth Tier spiritual beasts to a halt, causing them to neigh and rear up on their hind legs.

The carriage stopped precisely twenty zhang from the man. The white-haired coachman took a careful look at the person before him, and then a look of astonishment reappeared on his face.

“Tai Ling Sect, Ji Lingzi?”

Standing before the carriage was a youth dressed in a dark blue Daoist robe, carrying a long sword on his back. His eyes were currently clouded with gloom as he stared into the black Cloud-Flipping Carriage.

His burning gaze seemed intent on piercing through the carriage itself.

“Desire-Severing, why did you flee without a fight?”

Silence emanated from within the carriage for a long moment, before a cold voice finally sounded.

“Not worth it!”

Ji Lingzi stiffened slightly, feeling a touch of confusion.

The white-haired elder, however, chuckled. “My young master means that a despicable person such as yourself is not worthy of his attention! If the Tai Ling Sect can only produce a disciple like you, then it’s better not to fight at all—”

A flush immediately rose on Ji Lingzi’s face, the anger in his eyes swelling like magma about to erupt. His voice was low, “On what grounds, Desire-Severing, do you presume to judge me, Ji Lingzi? On Tai Ling Mountain, we fought only three rounds; was that an act of cowardice?”

The carriage fell silent once more for a moment, after which a cold laugh emerged.

“Your Sword Heart is damaged; you are merely trash. Why waste effort? I may not know the others from the Tai Ling Sect, but I know your swordsmanship has regressed rather than advanced. Truly unworthy—”